Limassol: a first-timer's guide to Cyprus's liveliest city

Why go

Limassol is the most energetic city on the island. It has a real working life, a large international community, and restaurants and bars that stay busy all year rather than just in summer. It also sits in the middle of the south coast, so it makes an excellent base for day trips to Paphos, Nicosia, Troodos and the ancient sites nearby.

The old town and seafront

Start at **Limassol Castle**, a small medieval fort that houses the Cyprus Medieval Museum; tradition says Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre here in 1191. Around it, the old town lanes hold the **Grand Mosque** (Kebir Mosque), the **Agia Napa Cathedral**, craft shops and restaurants, many in restored carob warehouses. The **Molos** promenade runs west to east along the sea and is perfect for an evening walk. At its western end, the **Limassol Marina** has cafés and yachts, and the **Old Port** next to it has been turned into a place for seafood restaurants and bars.

Ancient sites nearby

Twenty minutes west, **Kourion** is one of the most spectacular archaeological sites in Cyprus: a Greco Roman theatre on a clifftop above the sea, mosaic floored villas and an early Christian basilica. Summer performances in the theatre are memorable. Close by is the **Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates** and **Kolossi Castle**, a Crusader keep once used by the Knights Hospitaller to make Commandaria, a sweet dessert wine still produced in the hills today. East of the city, **Amathus** has the ruins of an ancient city by the shore.

Beaches

City beaches line the promenade and are fine for a swim, with **Dasoudi** offering shade under eucalyptus trees. For something more special, **Kourion Beach** stretches below the cliffs, **Lady's Mile** is a long, quiet beach near the Akrotiri peninsula, and **Governor's Beach** to the east has white rocks against dark sand. The **Akrotiri Salt Lake**, a protected wetland, draws flamingos in winter.

Wine villages

The slopes north of Limassol are Cyprus's wine country. Villages such as **Omodos**, **Vasa**, **Arsos**, **Lofou** and **Koilani** have family wineries, cobbled lanes and village tavernas. Look for wines made from the native Xynisteri and Maratheftiko grapes, and Commandaria from the villages around Zoopigi and Kalo Chorio. The **Limassol Wine Festival**, held in the municipal gardens in late summer, is a fun local evening.

Festivals

Limassol hosts the island's biggest **Carnival**, ten days of parades and parties in the weeks before Orthodox Lent, usually in February or March. It is the best time of year to see the city let loose.

Where to stay

The tourist area east of the centre, around **Potamos Germasogeias**, has most beach hotels and is lively in summer. The old town and marina suit people who want restaurants and bars on the doorstep. Limassol is often the most expensive place to stay in Cyprus, especially in summer, so book early.

Getting around

City buses run along the seafront and to the hotel strip, and taxis are easy to find. Intercity buses connect Limassol with Nicosia, Larnaca and Paphos several times a day, and airport shuttles serve both Larnaca and Paphos airports. Use the free trip planner to time your day trips and the places to visit list for tavernas and bars.